The North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce holds its legislative breakfast. 7 a.m. Marie Callender’s 19310 Business Center Dr., Northridge (818) 349-5676 nvrcc.com

United Online, Inc. launched its new DSL service available to customers in 21 states, the company announced Thursday. The Woodland Hills-based Internet service provider offers two levels of service through Verizon. While the company believes that dial up continues to be a great solution for many people, it wanted to offer the faster connection of DSL to those customers who want it, said United Online Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark R. Goldston. “Our new relationship with Verizon made this the right time for NetZero to enter the broadband market with a competitive offering that enables those consumers looking to download photos, video, music and large files at speeds up to 50 times faster than dial-up,” Goldston said. NetZero DSL features easy do-it-yourself installation, virus protection, a pop-up blocker, email with spam protection, a DSL modem and free backup dial-up access account.

A longtime planning commissioner for the city of Simi Valley will not seek another term after a dozen years on the board. Rick Kunz said he would step down from the position after the end of the term, the city announced. He has been appointed to the board all 12 years Mayor Paul Miller has been in office. Miller plans to nominate Simi Valley resident and local business owner Keith Mashburn to fill the position. The appointment awaits City Council approval.

The Studio City Chamber of Commerce holds its monthly mixer. 5:30 p.m. 4017 Radford Ave. Studio City (818) 655-5916 studiocitychamber.com

The number of single-family homes sold in the San Fernando Valley during October dropped 22.7 percent from a year ago, another sign of a readjusting Southern California housing market, according to a study of housing trends by the Southland Regional Association of Realtors. In October 771 homes closed escrow, compared to 814 in September and 998 in October 2005. The average price was also slightly down, from $663,600 a year ago to $642,600, a 3.3 percent drop. The month saw 4,931 homes on the market, up 55 percent increase from October 2005. Condominium resale statistics also showed a mixed picture. Escrows dropped 31.2 percent from October 2005 to 2006 and 16.7 percent during the month. Compared to last year, active listings are up 69.6 percent to 1,850 units. The average condominium sold for $424,200, 2.2 percent from last year and $2.1 percent from last month. Overall, 1,020 homes and condos closed escrow during the month, 25 percent lower than last year, while the average price $663,600 is up 3.3 percent from October 2005.

The Woodland Hills blood products and service provider HemaCare Corp. reported third quarter 2006 revenue increased 18 percent from the same 2005 period. HemaCare created $9.2 million in revenue, up from $7.8 million last year. Gross profit totaled $1.7 million, compared to $1.4 million during the quarter of 2005, the company reported. Net income also rose 52 percent to $448,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the quarter, the company’s 12 such consecutive profitable quarter. The boost was fueled by a 20 percent increase in revenue from blood products, the company said.

The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to give preliminary approval to a package of bills changing how 12 hotels along Century Boulevard near Los Angeles International Airport pay its workers. The farthest-reaching ordinance, approved 11-3, requires hotels to pay workers the prevailing living wage, or $10.64 per hour. Valley City Councilmen Dennis Zine and Greig Smith were among those that voted in opposition. The Council also passed separate measures requiring hotel management to keep workers on payroll for 90 days after a hotel property is sold and to pass service charges generated from banquets and other events to employees working those functions. Both passed 13-1. If passed next Wednesday by a majority of the Council, it would be the first time the city has forced a business not tied to the municipal government to pay a living wage. The package is the brainchild of the union Unite Here, which represents 3,500 local hotel workers. The measures affect only hotels near LAX.

The City Council has voted unanimously to reduce the city’s business tax and reconfigure the number of tax categories for businesses. The move cuts the business tax by 4 percent and reduces 42 business tax categories to nine. Second District City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, who represents the eastern portion of the Valley, and Council President Eric Garcetti introduced the measure. “We have demonstrated that if you are a business-friendly city you reap the benefits. By rolling back business tax rates and extending breaks to new businesses we are pulling in more revenue and creating more jobs,” Greuel said in a statement. The cuts are part of a phased reduction to the city’s business tax. A 15 percent cut for all businesses was introduced in 2004 and has been phased in over five years. Garcetti and Greuel also introduced a measure to extend a new-business tax exemption.

The San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center at California State University Northridge has received a national award for its annual economic report. The Association for University Business and Economic Research bestowed its Award of Excellence for data publications for the center’s 2005-2006 economic report on the Valley economy. Released last fall, the 100-page analysis examined the wide range of economic vectors affecting the area’s economy, its key industries and indicators for future growth. The 2005-2006 report was the eight edition prepared by the center. It is presented annually at the Valley Industry and Commerce Association’s Business Forecast Conference. The ninth annual was released last month.

Many of L.A.’s largest public pension funds have committed a combined $65 million to create a private equity real estate fund to establish workforce housing projects in the city. The funds from the Los Angeles Employees Retirement System, Los Angeles County Employee Retirement Association and Los Angeles Department of Fire and Police Pensions will create the Genesis Workforce Housing Fund managed by Phoenix Realty Group. The money will fund projects constructed by private developers adding as many as 2,250 housing units over the next four years, according to the mayor’s office, which announced the plan late Monday. The creation of the pension fund comes a week after Los Angeles voters narrowly defeated Measure H, a housing bond that would have funded the construction of affordable units in the city.